Four Creative Midfield Players Who United Should Be Targeting In January

Content Editor

4 years ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester United News, Transfer News

Tags: Amine Harit, Aston Villa, jack grealish, Manchester United, Marcel Sabitzer, Rodrigo De Paul

Manchester United have been suffering from a lack of guile and creativity this season. Some of that is down to the absence of Paul Pogba but the Red Devils should not have to rely on one man to create chances.

It has led to the club reportedly pursuing the likes of James Maddison and Christian Eriksen, but it appears neither player is either willing or able to move during the January transfer window.

So who would be looking to move, and has had a good enough season, to warrant United shelling out good money on a player midway through the campaign?

Press the “next page” as we look at four creative midfield players we have identified, based on the stats from Wyscout.

Marcel Sabitzer

The Austrian international has played a key role as RB Leipzig top the table at the midway point of the Bundesliga season.

Sabitzer is only 25 years of age, and he is a player who can play off the right flank, which has been a problem position for United. He has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 24 games this season.

Goals: 13
xG: 6.5
Assists: 6
Expected Assists Per 90 (xA per 90): 0.27
Key Passes Per 90: 0.84
Through Passes Per 90: 1.64
Touches In Box Per 90: 3.32

Jack Grealish

The 24-year-old is in the form of his life at the moment and has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, although not as frequently as either Maddison or Eriksen.

For Villa, he generally plays from the left-hand side, but he can also be utilised more centrally in a no.10 role.

Goals: 8
xG: 4.5
Assists: 5
Expected Assists Per 90 (xA per 90): 0.18
Key Passes Per 90: 0.68
Through Passes Per 90: 0.77
Touches In Box Per 90: 3.07

Amine Harit

The Moroccan playmaker has been in good form at Schalke this campaign and would be a useful long term replacement for someone like Juan Mata.

Harit generally plays off the striker, in between the lines, or he can play out wide if called upon. His six goals and five assists in 19 appearances shows he has an end product too.

Goals: 6
xG: 3.6
Assists: 5
Expected Assists Per 90 (xA per 90): 0.26
Key Passes Per 90: 0.52
Through Passes Per 90: 1.25
Touches In Box Per 90: 2.03

Rodrigo De Paul

The Argentinian international has been playing in a struggling Udinese side this season, but he has stood out with his quality in possession.

At 25, he is still relatively young, and he would certainly be keen to move in January if a club of United’s stature came calling.

Goals: 3
xG: 2.1
Assists: 2
Expected Assists Per 90 (xA per 90): 0.14
Key Passes Per 90: 0.85
Through Passes Per 90: 2.63
Touches In Box Per 90: 1.85